Harbinger: The Four Knights

The Rite

The day when we are about to leave came and the friends that I made visited me countless times only to remind me to be careful and not draw so much attention by causing trouble. “Rest assured, I will stop him from doing anything reckless. I am his butler after all.” Abel boasted making the others jealous that he is going with me. The great elder saw them and ask them not to disturb me saying that I am going to pack my things when I have already packed them the day before. “The young master is going to pack his clothes and the things that he needs. We don’t want to disturb him in such important thing.” They left the instant the great elder asked them to leave and the instant they did, I told the great elder that I have already done so. “Great elder, I have already finished preparing my luggage. Abel and mother helped me prepare them last night.” I said with a respectful tone as I bow my head.

The great elder smiled and pat my head as if he knew that I had already done preparing. "Oh young lad! I have known that you are done preparing, I did that so that I can get a time to talk with you. Why don’t we take a walk, you will soon venture out into the world and I would not get a chance to talk with you like I have today so if you may give this old man some of your time, I will greatly appreciate it.” The great elder said with a comfortable smile on his face. 

[Ugh! If you make that face great grandpa- how can I ever refuse you?] I thought to myself as I bow my head and walk by his side. “Hohohoh! How long was the last time that I had a walk in this part of the forest? The last time I did was when I was with your grandpa, the father of your mother. We demons, have a way to wish our fellow demons goodbye you see? Do you remember what I told you when you were a lot younger?” he asked me as we walk in to the a part of the forest that prohibited other demons from coming except for the elders and high officials. “What is this place great grandpa?” I asked after seeing a large and old looking house made of marble. “This is the place where we store most of our artifacts that we do not use anymore.” He said as he gently swing his hand and all of the sudden, various runes glow in the entire area near the door and it open.

 Great grandfather then opened the door and ask me to come in, what I saw inside is really astonishing. There are so many types of weapons and gears and even artifacts, they look old but it looks like they are frequently cleaned and maintained. “These here are the things that we used to carry with us before the great war ended. It used to be thousands of them but most of them are lost and only a few remained. So as wishing you good bye, I allow you to bring 3 artifacts that you would like but be careful, these artifacts have requirements that are needed for you to be able to wield them.” Great grandfather reminded as I stare in awe looking at the artifacts. “Wow- these things are marvelous! Is it okay to be taking 3 great grandpa? Wouldn’t our ancestors curse me for doing so?” I asked with an excited and nervous tone but he just chuckled and flashed a smile. “What rubbish! Our ancestors would like you to use them than leave these things collecting dust! I’m sure our ancestors would not mind it, a genius is going to use if after all, that would be their honor if anything else!” he declared with a great and gallant tone as extended his hand. “Now, pick. You don’t want to be late in your first travel don’t you?”

 [Ah! Just as I thought, great grandfather is spoiling me again! This is why mother doesn’t want me near him always since I will be spoiled every time I stay with him but great grandpa always tells me anything and it is fun learning with him, I get to understand how, we demons use magic efficiently.] I thought to myself as I try to hold myself back from jumping on him in gratefulness and might end up injuring him instead so I held it in. “Okay great grandpa- hmmm so what should I pick?” I muttered to myself and then he suggested. “Hover your hand on top of the artifact, that way, you can easily understand how that artifact works.” He suggested and I did what I have been told, and it really does work, I don’t know how to explain it but the moment I hover my hand over an artifact, an image pops up in my mind showing how the artifact is being used.

 “Woah! There is an artifact that does such a thing?!” I exclaimed after experiencing it for the first time, so hover my hand over the artifacts and enjoyed the flashing of images in my head. And after a while of doing so, I have finished learning of everything. Great grandfather looks at me with a curious expression as to why I did not pick a single one. “Have you decided on anything yet my boy?” he asked right after seeing me stop. “I don’t get it great grandpa, why does it feel like all of these are just an illusion?” I asked and turned to him and saw him with his eyes widen in shock and slowly flashed a smile on his face.

 [Impossible! There has none who had thought of this in the past! How did he knew that these is all an illusion? Just as I thought, his ability in magic is like no other that we have seen before!] I let out a chuckle and shook my head. “You are right my grandchild, these are all just an illusion. What you are seeing right now is the result of the magic that is used to protect the real artifacts. The ones you are seeing right now are defectives! The ones who can take the real artifacts are those who can see through the illusion and you are the very first person to have done so.”

 CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

 The elders who have been hiding in the shadows clap their hands along with me after he successfully passed the rite for the passage to the real artifacts.

 I was surprised when I suddenly heard a set of bunch of hands clapping together and to my surprise, they were all the elders of the shadow lands, congratulating me for my success. Then suddenly, time seem to have stopped and a brilliant light shine above me, the entire ceiling of the entire house, it was blinding but soothing at the same time. Then 3 artifacts appeared in front of me, a ring, an axe that is quite peculiar in shape, its handles are in a shape of a circle directly connected to both blades and last, a blood red cloak made of a material that I have not seen before. Then the time continued as if all of it happened in a flash and now the artifacts are floating in front of me, emitting a brilliant yellow light. All the elders around me gasp in awe as they bow their heads after seeing the artifacts floating in front of me. 

I turned my head to my great grandfather and saw him doing the same thing. “What is happening?” I asked myself as my great grandfather gave me an answer. “Child, that ring is from the former and first demon who have existed, the ring of the Void, it can suck out things and store everything in great condition. Who knows how many things that ring contains. And those two other artifacts are in the possession of the demon who lead us into prosperity, his origin is unknown. That is all that we know, to think that you are chosen by these artifacts gives me a little feeling that you will be the next one who will lead us in the future.” He continues to bow his head while explaining everything but I asked them to lift their heads and stand properly. “Elders- I am quite shocked of what happened but please do not behave like that. It makes me a little uncomfortable.” I told them and so they stood properly.

 They wanted to talk about me a little longer but uncle Mark told us that we are about to depart so instead, they handed me an orb that would allow me to communicate with them as I wish and wished us to have a safe trip. My great grandfather wept as I leave the shadow lands in a carriage along with my mother and father. Everyone waved their hands with a smile on their faces, shouting at Abel and I to be careful on the road.